Last week I shared a letter from the Archbishop on the “Journey in Faith” initiative. This initiative is built on collected data from various things including: the “Synod Survey” a few years ago, the “Disciple Maker Index” Survey last December, meetings with “focus groups” representing various demographics, and analysis of statistical data (number of Catholics, Sacraments, and changes in populations and demographics). You can see some of those numbers and projections at the following link: https://www.dbqjourneyinfaith.org/by-the-numbers
Prayerfully considering all the data, Archbishop Zinkula has launched this initiative of Journey of Faith. This initiative focuses on three priorities: 1) Evangelization; 2) Leadership Formation and 3) Pastoral Planning. The third one, “Pastoral Planning” is the one that raises the most questions and concerns for people. Why? The Pastoral Planning part of this initiative will involve a structural reorganizing of the entire Archdiocese of Dubuque, whose territory is the 30 counties of northeast Iowa. Currently in our Archdiocese there are 160 parishes served by 85 active priests. Of those active priests, 20 are international priests.
This Pastoral Planning then will involve restructuring the Archdiocese, regrouping parishes into fewer but larger “Pastorates,” (a parish or group of parishes served by a head Pastor). As things currently stand nearly all of our priests serve as head Pastors. With fewer but larger pastorates, only a minority of priests will be head Pastors, and the majority of priests will be “Associate Pastors” or, more properly called, “Parochial Vicars.” This will allow us to more effectively utilize the various gifts of priests. The Archdiocese can be more selective in who serves as head Pastors, choosing the priests who are truly gifted with administration and visioning. And the rest of the priests, relieved of the administrative burden, will be more available for ministry and mission: preaching, teaching, Sacraments and relational ministry (pastoral counselling, spiritual direction, etc.). This also means that every Pastorate will have at least two priests, and so all priests will be in a more “collaborative” style of ministry. This will be a major mindset shift for the priests, to have more of a “team” mindset.
This, of course, will be a major mindset shift for you all, for all the people in the pews. It will mean more of a “team” mindset with other parishes, and thinking of our parishes as part of a “network of mission outposts” serving in a missionary territory, where we are to evangelize and make disciples. It’s a shift from a mindset of “maintaining” parishes, or of “managed decline” to a “missionary mindset”: the adventurous call of Christ to mission, to go out and proclaim the Gospel, share the story of Christ, share your own story, invite others to know Christ, invite others to Church, and “Make Disciples of All Nations” (Matthew 18:19-20). You will be hearing more about this in months to come, that will involve seeking your feedback. But in the meantime, to learn more you can visit: https://www.dbqjourneyinfaith.org/
Peace,
-Fr. Kevin
